The court has found guilty two militants of the terrorist organization LNR, who fought against Ukraine as part of russian occupation forces.

For trespass against territorial integrity and inviolability of our state and participation in unlawful armed formations, they were sentenced to 10 and 8 years in prison.

In May 2022, Ukrainian defenders took them prisoner in the battle in Luhansk region.

The SSU established that one of the convicts began his ‘military career’ in illegal armed groups formed by russia in 2015. Before the full-scale invasion started, he took part in clashes with the Ukrainian Armed Forces near the contact line. He also organized guarding of checkpoints and militants’ training grounds.

The other militant went to fight to evade going to prison for theft. Earlier, he had been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment three times: twice for robbery and once for inflicting grievous bodily harm.

So, when he committed another crime in 2021, he received an offer: to go to prison for the fourth time or to sign a contract ‘to serve’ in the ranks of the ‘LNR people’s militia.’

The SSU investigators have gathered a substantial evidence base on these militants, which led to conviction to real terms of imprisonment. The criminal proceedings were opened under two articles of the CCU:

• 110.2 (trespass against territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine);
• 260.2 (unlawful armed formations).